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Manufacturer adds solar power to Lenoir City facilities

Seco Tools, a manufacturer and supplier of carbide cutting tools, today installed a new 29.6kw solar PV system at its Lenoir City facility.

Seco received a federal Renewable Energy Grant for $59,061 and a $59,220 grant from the Tennessee Solar Institute for the project. The U.S. Department of Treasury Renewable Energy Grant will pay 30 percent of the total cost of a solar PV system, without any cap, while the TSI grant paid $2 per watt.

These and other incentives covered at least 60 percent of the installation's costs, according to Efficient Energy of Tennessee, the installation company for the project.

The solar power array will generate 37,067
kilowatt-hours annually. Seco expects to generate more than $7,000
through participation in the TVA Generation Partners Program, according
to an EETN case study.

"Seco Tools' solar system is a huge accomplishment for both Seco and
EETN and is a perfect example of the grant funding at work in the state
of Tennessee," said Harvey Abouelata, VP Sales and Marketing for EETN,
in a press release."EETN uses SHARP solar panels, which are produced
in Memphis, Tennessee, creating and protecting jobs in our state.
Additionally, SHARP uses AGC Flat Glass, which is produced in Kingsport,
Tennessee."

Seco Tools, Inc. has 40 wholly-owned subsidiaries, agents and
distributors in more than 50 countries around the world. EETN's
installation for Seco Tools' Lenoir City, Tennessee operation is the
company's first solar PV system.

"Globally, Seco Tools has focused a great deal of attention on
minimizing our impact on the environment," said Kurt Nordlund, President
of Seco Tools Inc. "The efforts undertaken at our facility in Lenoir
City, Tennessee are representative of our company's dedication to being
an industry leader in terms of green production and operation."